When a young girl learns she is the Last Heir to the legendary pirate Davy Jones, she is whisked away to begin life aboard an enchanted schoolship for Pirate Heirs where danger and excitement awaits. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
Contemporary kids who happen to be Heirs of the most villainous and celebrated pirates in history. Superstitions, mysteries, secrets, strange ocean creatures, and seafaring legends will thrill middle-grade readers in this rollicking, globe-trotting adventure.
California, Nov 29, 2021
Ten-year-old Avalina Jones, a resident of La Maison des Oublies—the House of the Forgotten—is kidnapped by a beautiful and dangerous woman. Scarlet Read is First Officer to the Heirs of the High Fleet—an ancient organization of Pirate Heirs. When Avalina learns she is the Last Heir of Davy Jones and Heir to the Pirate Kingdom, her life explodes with extraordinary adventures: she is thrust into a wondrous world aboard the Aquatiery, a schoolship teeming with Heirs of the most nefarious pirates in history and crewed by bizarre creatures called Octosapiens, Humanta Rays, and Nautiladies. On this schoolship, bizarre is the norm—food fights back and school supplies giggle or explode. Author Lori Adams masterfully weaves a fresh tale of ancient sea lore, pirates, sea magic, and original ocean creatures in her new middle-grade fantasy, Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm, book one of a seven-part series.
During the Golden Age of Piracy, infamous pirate, Davy Jones, was quartermaster to Del Maligno, Cap’n of the Carafuego. Cap’n Maligno was evil and malicious even by pirate standards. After a murderous rampage, Cap’n Maligno falls victim to a mutiny organized by the crew and led by Davy Jones. After burning to death in a longboat, Del Maligno and a few loyal crewmembers escape Dead Man’s Dock. The undead Cap’n vows revenge against Davy Jones and all his heirs. For centuries, Cap’n Maligno has roamed the seas, hunting down and killing heirs of Davy Jones. With the deaths of Rory and Sarah Jones, the evil Cap’n believes he has succeeded, unaware they had a child hidden away. It seems the Last Heir of Davy Jones has escaped her fate, but does she have the dreaded Curse of Davy Jones, a death sentence conjured by Cap’n Maligno himself? Any Pirate Heir with a curse is disavowed and forfeits all protection under the High Fleet. Is Avalina destined to have the Curse?
“The Curse of Davy Jones is the Curse of Bad Luck, a fatal doom by all accounts. No respectable, sea-faring Heir would step foot aboard a ship if they knew they carried the Curse. They wouldn’t dare bring disaster to their fellow Pirate Heirs...Another, less reliable legend, said the Curse was buried deep inside each Jones Heir and only revealed when lured out by evil.”
Cursed or not, Avalina knows she has always felt a powerful connection to water. Lately, she’s discovered she can breathe underwater, and that water likes to follow her around. Her hopes rise during Hydrofunics class aboard the Aquatiery where First Officer Scarlet Read explains,
“Water is our primordial source...Water is full of energy and power. It calls to the power within each of us. Water can be controlled by those who connect their own inner source to that of the sea...water manipulation is one of the most treasured enchantments of our Sea Magic. There are cherished legends of old that tell of Pirate Heirs who have great abilities to draw upon water in the ancient ways—the water calls to them as they call to it.”
As Avalina settles into her new home and life, she makes friends with her deckmates Charlie, Pippa, and Bummy, who live on the Buccaneers’ deck, one of five student decks. The new junior Pirate Heirs, known as pollywogs or “pogs”, learn their way around the ship and all its many strange and fascinating wonders: those creatures called Half Ones that help crew the ship, unusual snacks of blowfish bubble gum, plankton pudding, and minnow munchies; meals in the Galley that are a challenging to eat: Venus Flytrap Fettuccine that fights back, Snap Dragon salad that snaps at you, Blue Mau Mau soup that spins in a circle, Squidletts in a Blanket that snore, and of course Gigglin’ Grog that leads to uncontrollable laughter.
There is so much to learn aboard a Pirate Heir schoolship. Avalina and her friends attend classes such as: Tesoro Cartography, Knotty Cordage, Weaponry, and Hydrofunics. The pogs enjoy trips to Hardtack Harbor--a village deep in the heart of the Aquatiery--where they gather school supplies from unique shops such as the Armory Shop with unimaginable gadgets and Podswallow Tavern, home of the deliciously sweet pods.
Despite the fear of having the dreaded Jones’ Curse and being discovered by Del Maligno, Avalina is determined to prove she belongs aboard the Aquatiery and is worthy of the High Fleet’s protection. But when the ship encounters a series of bad luck: a red sky, a relentless storm, and the horrifying murder of the quartermaster’s cherished pet, Avalina is blamed. To prove her innocence, Avalina unlocks long buried secrets of the ship and make a dangerous discovery that threatens everyone on board. As she and her new deckmates race to uncover the truth, they are unaware that a darker, more sinister fate awaits.
Worlds collide for middle-grade readers who will love the fast-paced thrills, colorful characters, secrets, legends, and the interplay of fantasy and reality in Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm. Author Lori Adams skillfully delivers a story that is timeless, bringing together elements of sea lore, magic, and adventure. Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm, is a romping tale for middle graders who are searching for the next enduring fantasy classic.
“Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm is an action-packed fantasy. . . This novel is packed with creativity. Lori Adams has outdone herself in describing the magical ship and all of its components. . . I really enjoyed the story of Avalina Jones and her pirate adventure . . . any Hogwarts fans might find themselves equally enthralled by Avalina and her time aboard the Aquatiery.” ~SAN FRANCISCO BOOK REVIEW
“Adams’ pirate-centric story teems with entertaining bits of magic. A well-crafted, supernatural pirate tale with a capable, young hero.” ~KIRKUS REVIEWS
About the Author
Lori Adams is the author of the Avalina Jones series (MG, fantasy adventure) the Kate March Mysteries (YA, historical mystery) and the Soulkeepers Series first published by Random House (YA, paranormal fantasy). Originally from Oklahoma, she now lives in Southern California.
Contact Info
Spyhop Publishing
California, USA
949-633-8282
LoriAdamsbooks.com
LoriAdams33 gmail.com
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